Warrior Bust In Aventurine

This magnificent bust, probably representing a Macedonian warrior, was made in the workshops of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany by Laurent Le Magnifique, at the time of the Rainessance, towards the end of the 16th century. It was worked in a single block of this rare semi-precious stone belonging to the quartz family. The name "aventurine" comes from the seemingly random presence (from the Italian "à l'aventura") of inclusions of other stones, responsible for brilliant effects. In this case the fuchsite inclusions give it the green color. Aventurine is considered a stone of luck and optimism.